Memoirs Of A Graduate

I love getting cards for occasions; when they’re right. When the card fits you and you can the person’s put real effort into it. They’ve stood in that shop to find the one right for you. I always put that much effort into my cards; and so it’s nice when I see people have done the same for me. Its for that reason I don’t do Christmas cards for anyone expect parents and partner. It’s a nice sentiment but 100 matching cards to everyone just sort of defeats the object to me. I’ll wish my colleagues a merry Christmas, buy them a drink on the works night out, but don’t bother with cards.

As for family I send a newsletter type thing to my family over in various parts of the world. Basically a – here’s what I’ve been up to in 2011, the highlights. This year I’m putting it in my blog too. It will summarise the past year nicely for me and bring me nicely into 2012.

So here we are; 2011 - the highlights

Jake's 22nd/My 21st
We celebrated our respective birthdays at the end of March a few days between one another. Jake's band played a gig on his birthday night (also St Patrick's Day) and for mine we had friends around the flat as on my actual birthday I'd be on holiday for the actual date. Both ended up being brilliant nights and I was super glad to see all my friends before I turned 21 and headed off on my holidays.



Thailand
The big one. We set off on 28th March for Manchester airport very weary of the 14 hour flight ahead but excited none the less. Once we actually touched down in Bangkok it was a taxi ride to Pattaya where our hotel was. Thailand is amazing; it's not just a different country. It's a different world. As soon as we arrived I found myself constantly tugging at Jake's arm; "Look at that!" "OMG Look there." I was taken aback. I did so much in those two weeks; from shooting guns to riding elephants. Massages, spas, sun, sea, sand, alcohol; CHEAP alcohol - it was total bliss. It really is a paradise; especially where we were. They were streets that were as wild as Vegas with booming nightlife and bright lights; and there were islands with white sands and turquoise waters. The balance was lovely. I loved days going shopping or for long walks along the coast to return and get a full body massage for pennies. I won't say more about it; just that it's somewhere I'd recommend to anyone. It's difficult to pick a highlight from the holiday but all I know is it's definitely somewhere I want to go again. 

I also turned 21 while I was over there and after a day of being well and truly spoilt by Jake we celebrated in the evening with a rented out bar that offered my own band, a buffet with a spit roast pig as the centre piece and me being showered with roses and cake. Not to mention a million odd balloons. It was an amazing night and definitely a 21st to be remembered. The presents were amazing too, a beautiful Swavorski crystal necklace which remains to this day one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, and two astounding canvas paintings.

Graduation
When I returned back from Thailand it was time to knuckle down and get my exams done. My dissertation had already been completed and I was pleased to get a 1st for that. Results day came around and I received my 2:1 BSc (Hons) degree in Psychology. I was thrilled. Graduation turned out to be a lovely day. After a somewhat long-winded ceremony; myself, Jake and my family went for a lovely meal. I got some absolutely stunning presents too; a beautiful black ceramic diamond ring from Jake, white and black diamond earrings from my mum and a DSLR camera from my dad.

The New Job 
I started working for the NHS in July in the Human Resources Department. At first I was taken on as a data input temp - the work was pretty dull but a job's a job so I wasn't ready to complain. I soon found myself advancing however. I started in recruitment initially, carrying out pre-employment checks - CRBs, taking up references. That advanced further. I started working the reviews doing interviews for jobs. It wasn't exactly my 'comfort zone' but I found it so helpful. I'd be furiously scribbling down interview answers for my own benefit. It's so interesting to be on that side of the interview. To see the panel dicking around once the candidate has left makes you realise interviews aren't as scary as you think. Seven months on in the job I'm enjoying it so much. The team are amazing, truly nice people. I've got quite a lot in the way of responsibility from recruitment to maternity; and really, there's always something new. It's so versatile you don't get bored. HR is definitely an area I can see myself settling in.

The haircut

I know what you're thinking. A hair cut is a highlight of my year, really? It's not really the actual process of the cut it was the change it signified. This year has been so full of change. Leaving education being the biggest blip. I've been a student since the age of 4 so for that to go away - it was major. With everything changing around me I wanted a change of look too. I thought about dying my hair but there's not much I haven't done colour wise. A new cut seemed like the option. Hair modelling is kind of a tricky one; as a modelling job you don't get payment; but the hair cut, colour.etc is free so I suppose you get that out of it. The problem though is you don't get a say. You can't walk in say "I want to be a hair model but I want this colour and only take a few inches off". They get creative control. I was scared. But then people kept reminding me - whatever he does, hair grows. Colours can be stripped. So if you end up with a black short and sides, it's not the end of the world. He cut it short, but kept my brown just adding highlights. And I love it. It's so much easier to handle and I do think I suit it so I was happy.

Modelling
I found with the new job I had to turn down far more shoots. Most photographers want to do Monday-Friday, daylight hours for optimum light. It's something I can no longer offer so I found myself saying no to a lot of work offers. The few jobs I did make time for whether either well-paid or people I really wanted to work with. (Or hair modelling). Here's a few of the years pictures and a massive shout out to all the togs and MUAs I've worked with this year.

Growing up
While birthday's tend to have little effect on the way you physically feel; I do feel like this year has been the one I've matured the most. Living in a flat that wasn't student halls was a major for me. Having to account for things like bills, keeping a home tidy. Just general everyday stuff that becomes integral to life. Obviously getting a new job; I've worked before but only in shop jobs.etc. Never a career. Driving my car again - I passed my test when I was 18 but living in town the past three years, I've never needed a car. I've gone from that to owning my own car which comes with things like insurance, road tax, petrol. It sucks but then I can't really argue, having a car is beneficial for work as well as other things. As for next year; me and Jake are settling down in the town we call home; Crosby and Waterloo. It's where I grew up and it's where our lives are. Settling down means mortgages; and they're scary too. Growing up is expensive. But - it's exciting. I feel happy. While I miss not having some responsibilities, others I'm revelling in.

The end
Summarising the year is always hard; trying to cram an entire year into one blog without missing anything major is obviously difficult and there's obviously a lot I haven't included. But all the above have been the major events of 2011, with definitely Thailand being the major highlight. It's been a good year with many events that haven't been mentioned. Friends have been important this year, and I really am learning who the good ones are while whittling out the bad. I've had some amazing times with the amazing people in my life.

It should be an exciting year - I've got my list of achievements all laid out and anyone interested can view that here; http://salleh2012list.blogspot.com/ 

Happy New Year to all my readers, all the best for 2012!